Automobile signal



J. A. CUNNINGHAM Nov. 24

AUTOMOBILE S IGNAL Filed April 10, 1 924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Smith L Z @nnz W/yZ/a/m J. A. CUNNINGHAM Nov. 24 1925.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed April 10, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QRRbvw-os Savanna;

' Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. CUNNINGHAM, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. I

Application filed April 10, 1924. Serial No. 705,555.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, Jorm A. CUNNING- HAM,a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem, in the countyof Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in signals, for use on automobiles to show the intentions of their "drivers, with respect to direction of travel, and the object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character which will be highly efficient and in every way desirable.

With the foregoing in view, the invention residesin the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings. v

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied to an automobile.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the casing body and its removable end member in juxta osition, the rear side of the casing body being shown.

Figure 3 is a front elevation.

Figure 4 is an inner end view.

Figure 5 is a top plan view.

Figure 6 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view.

Fi res 7 and 8 are respectively vertical and orizontal sections on lines 7-7 and 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of oneof the reflectors and partitions which divide the casing into different signaling compart-. ments.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a vertically disposed inner end member for a signaling casing 2, said end member 1 having a con tinuous side flange 3 which projects outs wardly and receives the open inner end 4 of the casing. The end member 1 is provided with suitable brackets, 5 by means of which it may be secured to a windshield frame or other desired partof an automobile, and it may here be stated that while I haveshown the signal constructed for use on the right-hand side bf a machine it may also be manufactured to be applied to the left side.

In the present showing, four sockets 6, 7,

8 and 9 pass through the flange 3 at one side of the casing and carry illuminating bulbs 10, 11, 12 and 13. The passage of current through the wires 14 which lead to the sevover staples 17 carried by the casing 2, suit-, able anti-rattling keys 18 being preferablyv passed through said staples, as shown. When these keys are removed and the hasps 16 released, the entire casing 2 may be detached from the endmember 1, giving access to all of the bulbs 10, 11, 12 and 13, as well as makin all internal parts of the casing 2 accessib e, for instance for cleaning or repairing.

In a plane between the bulbs 12 and 13, the casing 2 is horizontally partitioned by a reflecting plate 19 whose edges are slidably received 1n opposed internal groovesv 20 formed in the front and rear walls of said casing. Above the reflector 19, the casing is further divided by lower and upper reflecting plates 21 and 22, having their edges received in grooves 23 and 24. All of the grooves are preferably formed by outwardly stamping the casing sides, as shown.

eral sockets is controlled by a suitable switch By the reflecting plates 19', :21'and 22, the I interior of the caslngis divided into a lower signaling compartment 25 illuminated by the bulb 13, an upper compartment 26 illuininated by the bulb 10, and two intermediate compartments 27 and 28 in which the bulbs 3' well urn continuously. This panel is horizontally elongated as seen in Fig. 3 and thus,

a ve distinctive light is constantly displaye to attract attention'to the s gnal, the shape ofthe panel serving toeiiectivel distinguish it from ordinary running an si nal 1i hts. The anel 31may be suitab y shape but is pre erably elongated as shown in Fig. 3. Either this panel'is colored or the bulb 13 co-operating therewith is 001- ored, so that a distinct colored light may be displayed at the front side of the signal casing, whenever the driver intends to pass a machine going in the same direction. Thus, the driver of another machine coming in the opposite direction is notified of the first drivers intentions and he is consequnetly more apt to allow him plenty of room. I prefer that the panel 31 shall disclose a blue light, but some other color could be used if desired.

The front and rear sides of the compartments 26 and 27 are provided with signaling panels 33 and 34to indicate right and lefthand turns, when illuminated by the bulbs 10 and 11. The reflector or partition 22 between these compartments 26 and 27 and the partition member 21 between the compartments 27 and 28, are each preferably of somewhat arched formation as shown, with the height-of the arch preferably increasing gradually away from the end member 1, to givebetter reflecting qualities. The upper sides of each of these members 21 and 22, are provided with central vertical longitudinal flanges 35*which are. of less height than the compartments into which they extend. These flanges are inline with the centers of the bulbs 10 and 11 and they are formed with reflecting surfaces so that they will reflect light from said bulbs, both forwardly and rearwardly through the panels 33 and 34. Preferably, in the formation of either the member 21 or 22, a single piece of sheet metal is bent'upon itself at its center as indicated at 36 in Fig. 9 only. The portions of the metal adjacent the bend form the flange 35 and on lines 37 spaced from said bend, the two halves ofthe piece of metal are bent horizontally outward to form the reflecting and partition member 21 or 22, as the case may be. These two members 21 and 22 extend entirely from end to end of the casing and the opposite ends of the latter are preferably grooved at 38 to receive them, and at one end, the flanges 35 are formed with notches 39 to receive the bulbs 10 and 11.

To provide additional reflecting means for the compartment- 28, the rear edge of the plate 19 is preferably formed with an upstanding reflecting flange 40 whose upper edge is preferably bent outwardly at 41 nto the next adjacent groove 23. A reflectng plate 42 is also by preferenceprovided 1n the bottom of the compartment 25, the rear edge "of this plate 42 having an upstanding reflecting flange 43 whose upper edge 44is b pereference bent outwardly into one of t e grooves 20. To receive the ends of the partition 19, the ends of the casing may have grooves 38, similar to the grooves 38 above described;

e of the device.

in using the device, the white panel 32 is continuously illuminated at night and turns intended, to the right or left, are indicated by means of the panels 33 'and 34, by illuminating either the bulb 10 or the bulb 11. The provision of the reflectors 21 and 22 with their flanges 35, insures that the light from these bulbs shall effectively illuminate the panels at both the front and rear sides lVhen the driver of the machine intends to pass another machine going in-the same direction, the panel 31 is illuminated, preferably with a blue light as above set forth, and thus anyone coming in the opposite direction is given warning of the driversintentions, so that he may be given plenty of room to ass. The reflectin plates 19 and 42 and t eir flanges 40 an 43 insure ampleillumination of the panels 31 and 32. p

In the preferred form of construction, a continuous rib 45 is stamped out around the inner end of the casing 2 to abut the flange 3, and the portion of said casing, receivable within said flange 3, has been shown a as formed with slots 46 leading to the several grooves above described, said slots preferably having enlarged front ends 47 so that the members 19, 21 and'22 may bereadily slid into place whenever they have been removed, for instance, when cleaning is necessary. The inner end of the casing 2 in addition to having the slots 46, is provided with notches as which receive the sockets 6, 7, 8 and 9.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a rather simple, yet a very efli'cient and desirable signaling device has been provided, and while excellent results may be obtained from the exact details disclosed, I wish it understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous modifications may be made.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a signal casing, bulb sockets mounted in one end of said casing, said casing having internal guideways extending longitudinally along opposite sides, a partition plate slidably received in said, guideways and dividing said easing into compartments, the side edges of said plate fitting in said guideways, said plate being transversely arched and resilient to ada t it to fit tightly against and in said gui eways, and

a reflecting flange projecting laterally from the convex side of said plate into one of said compartments and extending longitudinally of said plate intermediate of its side edges, said flange being of less height than the lastmentioned compartment to permit said plate to flex to fit said guideways.

2. Ina vdevice of the class described, the combination of a signal casing, bulb sockets mounted in one end of'said casing, said casing having internal guideways extending longitudinally along opposite sides, a partition plate slidably received in said guideways and dividing said easing into compartments, the side edges of said plate fitting into said guideways, said plate being transversely arched and resilient to adapt it to fit tightly against and in said guideways, and flanges extending laterally from inner edges of the two halves of said plate away from the convex sides thereof, said flanges being disposed back to back and being 1ntegrally connected along their outer edges, and forming a two-faced reflector of less height than the compartment in which it is dis osed to permit said plate to flex to fit sai uideways.

3. .n an automobile signal, a casing having a removable end member and bulb sockets carried thereby in vertically spaced relation, the front and rear sides of said casing having opposed inwardly facing horizontal grooves, and vertically spaced partitions having their edges slidably re- 'ceived in said grooves to divide the casing into separate signaling compartments, one of said partitions having a vertically extended longitudinal reflector at one edge extending to the next partition, said reflector having its free edge bent outwardly to form an anchoring flange received in one of the receiving grooves of said next partition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOHN A. CUNNINGHAM, 

